ABC News(CHICAGO) -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who backed President Obama in 2008 despite his close ties to the Clinton family, has no reservations for the 2016 cycle.

The former adviser to President Bill Clinton and former chief of staff to Obama will be headlining two fundraisers in early June for “Ready for Hillary,” the grassroots Super PAC that is urging Hillary Clinton to run for president announced on Friday.

The official endorsement comes a week after Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., announced his support for Hillary Clinton and the “Ready for Hillary” movement.

In his endorsement, Emanuel gave his reasons for supporting Clinton in 2016, who will likely be the Democratic frontrunner should she decide to run.

“Hillary is smart, she’s determined and, most importantly, she is a champion for the American people. I’m proud to make my support for her official, and I’m even prouder to join more than two million Americans encouraging her to run,” he told “Ready for Hillary,” referring to the group’s more than two million supporters.

In 2008, then-Congressman Emanuel, D-Ill., embarrassingly refrained from endorsing either Obama or Clinton until nearly the end of the primary. He eventually backed Obama on June 4, 2008, three days before Clinton suspended her campaign.

Despite speculation about his own presidential aspirations, Emanuel’s support for Clinton in 2016 is not unexpected. The Chicago mayor last fall said in an interview with CNN that he is “behind Hillary if she runs,” and that he believes she will.

The two fundraising events will be June 5 at a location to be determined in Chicago. Tickets range from the group’s symbolic price tag of $20.16 to $500, according to the invitation.